Canada today: Day 12

By BOB MACKIN, Special to QMI Agency

Canada's Adam van Koeverden reacts after competing in the men's kayak single (K1) 1000m heat at the Eton Dorney during the London 2012 Olympic Games August 6, 2012. REUTERS/Darren Whiteside

LONDON - Big at the Games

On the basketball court, it’s quarter-finals time and the U.S. meets Australia. The men from Down Under, coached by American Brett Brown (an assistant with the San Antonio Spurs), dealt Russia an 82-80 loss to advance to the knockout round. The Aussie point guard is Spur Patrick Mills. At Horse Guards Arena, women’s beach volleyball wraps up with the medal round.

Big for Canada

Adam van Koeverden of Oakville, Ont., races for gold in the men’s 1,000M kayak final at Eton Dorney. Thirty-year-old Van Koeverden, Canada’s Beijing 2008 opening ceremony flagbearer, won gold (500M) and bronze (1,000M) at Athens 2004 and silver (500M) in Beijing 2008. Later at Eton Dorney, Mark Oldershaw of Burlington, Ont., is in the canoe single 1,000M final, carrying on a family tradition. His grandfather Bert Oldershaw competed at London 1948, father Scott (his coach) was in Los Angeles 1984, unclea Dean at Munich 1972 and Montreal 1976 and uncle Reed at Montreal 1976.

Elsewhere

At the Olympic Stadium, Sultana Frizell of Kamloops and Heather Steacy of Lethbridge, Alta., seek to qualify in the women’s hammer throw. Curtis Moss of Burnaby, B.C. is in men’s javelin qualifying.

Melissa Bishop of Eganville, Ont., is in the women’s 800M first round. Hilary Stellingwerff of Victoria and Nicole Sifuentes of Winnipeg are entered in the women’s 1,500 m semi-final.

The men’s 200M semi-finals include Jared Connaughton of New Haven, P.E.I., and Aaron Brown of Toronto race, but Brown has the honour of being in the same heat as Jamaican superstar sprinter Usain Bolt.

Damian Warner of London, Ont., performs the first five events of the men’s decathlon: 100M, 400M, shot put, long jump and high jump.

Trivia

Four years ago today, on Aug. 8, 2008, the Beijing Olympics opened in grand style at the Bird’s Nest Stadium. Canada ended those Games with 18 medals (three gold, nine silver and six bronze). China had the most gold (51) and the U.S. the most medals overall (110).